USY teens help in Union Beach

Mar. 31, 2013

Written by

Terry Gauthier Muessig

@terrymuessAPP

UNION BEACH — During part of the Jewish Passover, teens from across the county came to the Bayshore area to help Tikkum Olam.

In the Jewish faith, Tikkum Olam means repair the world. As members of the United Synagogue Youth, a branch of the United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism, 83 teens spent their spring break on Thursday and Friday clearing properties of debris in the borough.

Last Saturday, the teens spent their day at the synagogue studying their faith, as well as the Jewish response to natural disasters and the importance of doing good work in the world.

“I saw the teen working in the rainy, windy weather on Thursday, with shovels, hoes and other tools,” said Shira Dicker, of media international, N.Y. The alternative spring break was supported in part by Repair the World, Congregation Torat-El in Oakhurst. The teens spent their evenings at the synagogue in sleeping bags.

Every year, the United Synagogue Youth spend time traveling to various cities to help others, Dicker said. After superstorm Sandy, the teens decided they would work in New Jersey. In December, they conducted a rally against gun violence in Boston, Dicker said.